Veteran Peer Support Specialist

Kentucky River Foothills Development Council•Richmond, KY

5d•$20 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The Veteran Peer Support Specialist provides non-clinical peer support services to eligible Veterans and Service members participating in the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. This position uses lived experience, shared understanding, and relationship-based support to help participants engage in services, reduce isolation, strengthen protective factors, and follow through with individualized service plans and referrals. The Veteran Peer Support Specialist serves as a trusted source of encouragement and support for individuals who may be experiencing psychosocial stressors, suicide risk factors, or difficulty accessing and remaining engaged with needed services.

Requirements

Must be a Veteran with discharge status other than dishonorable, bad conduct, or court-martial discharge.
Must have lived experience related to mental health recovery, including someone who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition.
Must have spent at least one year in personal recovery from a mental health condition.
Must be trained in peer support.
Must be able to use similar lived experiences related to mental health or suicide to support participants.
Must be certified as a peer support specialist by either a qualifying nonprofit peer-support training/certification entity, or a state under that state's peer-support certification requirements.
Ability to communicate effectively, establish rapport, and maintain appropriate professional boundaries required.
Must be able to pass all background checks, credentialing, and employment requirements applicable to the position.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or relevant human services experience preferred.
Experience working with Veterans, military families, individuals with behavioral health challenges, or vulnerable populations preferred.
Experience in peer support, mentoring, advocacy, outreach, case coordination, or related human service work preferred.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation preferred or required depending on program assignment.

Responsibilities

Provides non-clinical peer support services to eligible Veterans and Service members.
Uses lived experience, shared understanding, and relationship-based support to help participants engage in services.
Helps participants reduce isolation, strengthen protective factors, and follow through with individualized service plans and referrals.
Serves as a trusted source of encouragement and support for individuals experiencing psychosocial stressors, suicide risk factors, or difficulty accessing and remaining engaged with needed services.
Completes all required agency and program training, including suicide prevention-related training, confidentiality training, documentation training, safety training, and any required peer support or grant-related training.
Maintains appropriate professional conduct and boundaries at all times.
Works effectively with individuals experiencing crisis, trauma, social instability, or behavioral health-related challenges while remaining within the non-clinical scope of the role.